Crate



(No Model.)

VAN BUREN WHEAT.

CRATE.

" Patented -Feb.'18, 1890.

h wawto'c kw 6m attozmeq f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VAN lBUREN WVHEAT, OF ORLEANS, NEWV YORK.

CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 421,534., dated February 18, 1890.

Application filed December 16, 1889- Serial No. 333,926. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, VAN BUREN WHEAT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Or leans, in the county of Ontario and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit Boxes and Crates; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention is intended to supply a crate in which boxes of fruit may be packed and transported without injury from jolting or external pressure. After the fruit has been snugly packed in the boxes it is essential that the boxes themselves should be firmly held in the crates to prevent their jostling together and by such means as will not press upon the sides, the top, or the bottom of the boxes, for these, being of light flexible material, will yield and the fruit be crushed.

In crating my fruit-boxes, patented June 11, 1889, No. 404,880, the tops and bottoms are all protected, except the bottoms of the lowest tier of boxes, by means of projections above the ends of the boxes; but the sides and ends are exposed, and the present invention is to provide a crate which, although adapted for use with my box, may also be used advantageously with other boxes.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the nature of the invention; in which is presented a perspective view of my improved crate and four boxes therein, a portion of the crate being broken away.

The different parts of the invention are referred to by letters, similar letters denoting corresponding parts in the different views.

The crate G is right angled, preferably made of light strong wood and having two ends h h made solid and connected by the side strips 2' i at the upper edges and the strips 2' t" at the middle of side in the crate shown in the drawing, and in any case where the layers of boxes come together. Strips 7i; k at the edges of the bottom of the crate support the pieces 0c 00, and other parallel strips, as is, further protect the bottoms of the boxes and strengthen the crate. The strips a: x furnish that protection to the bottom of my fruit-box which the upward extensions on its upper edges furnish to itstop when packed in this crate. Two other strips Z Z are provided for the edges of the top of the crate, and intervening strips Z further pro tect the boxes and cover the handles EE.

The direct object secured by this construction of the crate is this: All the external pressure upon the boxes is against their unyielding edges, and sufficient pressure to hold securely a very large number of the boxes can be applied without injury to the fruit.

The boxes should stand at such a height in the crate that the strips ZZwill press with considerable force upon them, and if necessary screws should be used in preference to nails to securely hold these strips upon the crate, as they, together with opposite strips 10 76 on the bottom of the crate, are the principal means of holding the boxes firmly to gether, and thereby each upright tier of boxes to the number of two or more, as may be, are held in their respective places in the crate, and jostling and side pressure against the end of crate and each other are prevented, which might otherwise occur to the injury of the contents.

The crate should be of such size that the sides of the upright tiers of boxes, when placed therein, will not come in contact with ends of crate or each other, but afford sufficient space between them for ventilation and safety to contents of boxes.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

A shipping-crate G, formed with its opposite ends h h, substantially made and having the side strip it t" z", the bottom strips 7c, and the intervening strip 70' the top stripsll, and the intevening strip Z and the pieces was on its inner bottom edges, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VAN BUREN WHEAT.

Witnesses:

A. E. CHAPMAN, M. J. EsTY. 

